Frank sat in his inn room, the dim glow of a crystallized lamp casting shifting blue hues across the pages of the book he was flipping through. The cover read Black Water Guild Adventuring Manual, its worn edges suggesting it had been handled by more than a few hopeful adventurers. As he skimmed through the text, his brow twitched in mild irritation.
"An unbalanced team build cannot qualify for formal registration..." he muttered, tapping the page with his finger. A scoff escaped his lips. "How the hell did these guys even get registered?"
He leaned back against the wooden chair, stretching his limbs with a groan. It had been three days since the battle with the mutated beast, yet echoes of that sheer, primal fright still lurked in the recesses of his mind. The way its claws had nearly torn through him, the sound of Elias's katana being cleaved in half—his stomach twisted slightly at the memory. It was the first time he had witnessed someone cut down right in front of him. His fingers instinctively traced the hem of his tunic as if expecting blood to still be there.
Then, an orb of soft white light flickered into existence before him, floating eerily at eye level. A message materialized within its core.
Raymond: Meet us downstairs.
Frank sighed, snapping the book shut. "And here I was hoping for a quiet morning."
---
The common area of the inn bustled with activity. Adventurers clanked their tankards together, and the scent of roasted meat mixed with the thick aroma of ale. Frank spotted Raymond and the others gathered at a corner table. Elias, having just come down from his room, joined him as they made their way over.
"Alright, what's up?" Frank asked, rubbing his eyes. "You guys plotting something?"
Raymond crossed his arms, his imposing frame making the chair creak. "We're going to a ball."
Frank blinked. "A what?"
"A ball," Elias repeated, sliding into a chair. "An invitation from Tayla's father. He's a noble."
Frank whipped his head toward Tayla. "Wait, you're a noble?"
Tayla, seemingly uncomfortable, fidgeted with her braid. "It's not a big deal."
Frank snorted. "Right, because being a noble is totally normal. Should've known. You're crazy rich, and you somehow got this unbalanced team officially registered."
Kaido leaned back, grinning. "We have our ways."
Frank rolled his eyes. "So what's the real reason we're going to this fancy dance party?" He exaggerated a posh accent, waving an imaginary fan. "Are we debuting into high society?"
Raymond smirked. "No, it's about the beast. The guild examined its carcass—found evidence of forced mutations. Someone experimented on it."
Frank's amusement faded. "...Experimented?"
Elias nodded. "I've also been hearing rumors. More evolved creatures are showing up outside the city."
Kaido sighed. "Yeah, and they're getting stronger. The guild thinks our encounter was the first documented case."
Frank ran a hand through his hair. "So, let me get this straight. We fought some lab experiment gone rogue, we weren't supposed to survive, and now we're attending a noble's ball because Tayla's dad might have answers?"
Raymond shrugged. "Pretty much."
Frank exhaled. "Adventuring is way riskier than I thought."
Elias chuckled. "We're the last line of defense. If the kingdom's knights fail, if the elite fall, it's adventurers who take the real risks. We're the expendable ones."
Frank frowned. "That's... oddly grim."
Joel, the mage, leaned in with a smirk. "At least you're not as scrawny as before. Noticed you bulked up."
Frank arched a brow. "You saying I was weak before?"
"I'm saying," Joel teased, "that you were built like a scarecrow. Now you actually look like you belong in a fight."
Frank forced a chuckle but didn't reply. If only they knew—five days ago, he was literally a resurrected corpse.
Tayla glanced at him but quickly looked away when he caught her staring. Frank smirked. Shy, huh?
Elias abruptly clapped his hands. "Enough talk. Let's spar."
Frank raised a brow. "Right now?"
"Right now."
---
The guild's training grounds were buzzing with spectators. News spread fast—Elias and Frank were about to spar. A ring had formed around them, adventurers placing bets, cheering, or just watching out of curiosity.
Frank held the sword Elias had given him, testing its weight. "Damn, this one's actually good quality."
Elias unsheathed his katana. "Had it repaired. Good as new."
Frank eyed him. "So you're really gonna fight me with a katana? No holding back?"
Elias grinned. "Wouldn't dream of it."
Frank sighed, getting into stance. "Here we go..."
Elias moved first—fast, precise. His blade cut through the air in a clean arc. Frank barely sidestepped in time, the sharp tip grazing his tunic's hem.
"Whoa, dude, you almost cut my damn pants off!" Frank yelped.
"Focus," Elias smirked.
Frank retaliated with a swing of his own. Elias evaded, his movements fluid, almost like a dance. The crowd murmured in awe.
Raymond folded his arms. "He's actually keeping up."
Kaido chuckled. "Didn't expect that from our 'luggage boy.'"
Frank felt a shift in his vision. Reciprocate.
Suddenly, Elias's stance wasn't just something he saw—it was something he understood. His muscles tensed as if mimicking Elias's form on instinct. Frank adjusted his grip, his posture shifting seamlessly into a mirrored version of Elias's stance.
The reaction was immediate.
Elias's eyes widened. "What the—?"
Before he could finish, Frank lunged—fast.
Their swords clashed in a blur. Frank's body moved before he could even process it, dodging, countering, matching Elias strike for strike. It felt like his own hands were no longer just his—they carried experience he hadn't earned.
"He's copying him!?" an adventurer gasped.
"No, he's... he's matching him blow for blow!" another exclaimed.
Elias smirked mid-swing. "You're full of surprises, Frank."
Frank grinned, wiping sweat from his brow. "Yeah, well... it's kind of my thing."
The fight dragged on, the tension thick in the air. Then—an opening.
Elias went for his Trip Slash, a signature move. But as his blade came down, Frank vanished from sight. Quiet Walk.
The next thing Elias knew, Frank's sword was at his neck.
Silence.
Then—
"WHAT!?" the crowd erupted.
Elias exhaled. "Well, damn. That was unexpected."
Frank grinned. "So... did I win?"
A beat of silence. Then the crowd swarmed them, shouts and cheers ringing in the air.
Joel slapped Frank's back. "Alright, I take it back. You ain't a scarecrow anymore."
Raymond grinned. "What the hell are you?"
Frank scratched his head, grinning sheepishly. "Uh... good question."
The chapter ended with him awkwardly laughing as the team bombarded him with questions.